29: Mask of Tragedy

Kaito didn't care that it was nighttime. He didn't care that it was raining. He didn't care that he was soaked through and chilled to the bone on top of being injured from his heist the other night. All he could think of was Aoko's reaction that morning on hearing that Kaitou KID may have died in the explosion that ruined his heist. That stupid thief! It serves him right! He was always stealing away my Dad and mocking him! It would be so much better if he died last night!

Kaito had forced himself not to react. He had flipped her skirt and laughed while she chased him with her mop. Just like everyday. He had hidden the pain of his injuries, ignored Hakuba's suspicious looks, and acted the same as always. That was the poker face. The poker face wasn't to hide what he felt, that wasn't its true purpose. The real purpose of a magician's poker face was to show the audience what it wanted to see. His poker face, a smile, stopped them from seeing that inside he was breaking. It would be so much better if he died last night!

Aoko had said that. She had meant that.

Kaito's hands clenched and if the rain on his face was salty by the time it rolled past his lips, nobody else would be able to tell. He had run away after school had ended and he hadn't stopped until he couldn't run any more. Then he had walked and tried to recreate his mask.

The raindrops were quite large; they hit the ground with gentle, soothing patters. The streets were slick and puddled reflecting lights from buildings and Kaito's own dark silhouette. Nobody else was out. Nobody would be in weather this damp and dark. Kaito was alone, as he always seemed to be. Isn't that depressing.

"Hello?" Some one called from an open door. They couldn't possible be talking to me, Kaito moped. "Wait!" Kaito hesitated. "It's too wet to be out tonight." She, it was obviously a girl, said. A shadow fell over him, but Kaito didn't look up from his feet. Hnn… the rain stopped? It was an umbrella.

A hand fell on Kaito's shoulder and he didn't protest as he was led off his course. "Really… it's not a good night to be out. Conan-kun saw you passing by. You don't look like you're in any state to be left alone." Conan… so this is Ran… Kaito thought numbly. The brief fear that his identity would be found out flashed through his mind, but… she was right. This really was dreadful weather to be out at night alone in. Ran led him into a bright room and left, running off to fetch towels and a dry change of clothes.

"She's nice." Kaito remarked, to the one person short enough for him see even though he was looking down. "Un…" Conan nodded, staring at him with open curiosity. Kaito didn't move until Ran reappeared and draped a towel across his shoulders and another on his head. Slowly, as though he lacked the energy necessary to move, Kaito dried off his hair and clothes until they were merely damp.

"My Dad's already asleep, but you should stay the night here." Ran offered. Kaito nodded and accepted the dry clothes, "thanks". Conan led him to a bathroom and Kaito paused. "Do you have any bandages?" Conan frowned, but quickly pulled some out of a cupboard before giving him some privacy.

"KID?" The shrunken detective asked softly when Kaito reappeared.

Kaito's lack of a reply was answer enough.

Ran, seeing that her guest was changed, pulled him over and settled him on the couch. "I can take care of him." Conan said in childish tones, "you've been tired lately Ran-nee-chan, you should go to bed!" Seeing the child's hopeful expression, Ran smiled, "okay Conan-kun, thank you. Goodnight, guest-san." She closed the door gently after herself.

"Everyone thinks you died last night." Conan said seriously when she was gone. Kaito snorted half-heartedly, "what a tragedy." He muttered. The detective's eyes widened at the unexpected reply. "Wha- why are you so sad?" The detective asked, hints of anger in his voice. Kaito chuckled bitterly, eyes watering again, "when everyone around you keeps saying that it would be better if you were caught or dead, you can't help but start believing it." He closed his eyes in misery.

"Baka!" Conan shouted in rage. "Anyone who says that a life is so worthless can't be a real friend or someone who you of all people would be close to!"

"It's not her fault!" Kaito cried back, "she doesn't know I'm…." He stopped with a choke, why should I defend her after…. It would be so much better if he died last night! Conan glared at him, "who said those things to you?" His voice was deadly serious.

Kaito's jaw clenched, why should I tell you?! "My childhood friend…" he found himself saying, "she hates m- KID. She always has." His nails were digging into the palms of his hands as he recited in Aoko's voice with all the venom her voice had carried, "It would be so much better if he died last night!" Conan gasped. "Hakuba knows me too, he suspects, but has no proof" Kaito continued again, mimicking the half-Brit, "A petty thief like him serves no purpose other than to get arrested." Kaito was openly crying now, "Aoko would never accept me if she knew, but then every day she says those things! They don't understand, they don't know… they can't know!" His words disappeared into sobs.

Suddenly, Conan was on Kaito's lap hugging him and patting his head. "Hey, hey… I know I'm only a critic, but I honestly think that you have saved my sanity several times over. When I'm at your heists, then sometimes people forget I'm a child and they actually listen; and when you also treat me like an adult nobody looks twice because they see it as a kid and KID interacting, so it's not strange and I can just be myself for a bit! You have no idea what that means to me!"

Conan sighed and forced Kaito to look at him, "If anyone, even a friend, can dismiss KID so easily without knowing the full story, without recognizing you as a person rather than just a thief, without taking into consideration the good you have done, then I don't think they're worth the effort you're so obviously giving." Conan coughed in embarrassment. "That being said, as a detective I have an obligation to chase you, as a thief, though personally I'm not sure that you being in jail would actually benefit anyone, plus you'd probably just escape…."

Kaito chuckled half-heartedly. "The point I'm trying to make" Conan exclaimed, "is that no one deserves to die and you need some new friends!" Kaito laughed. The detective tried to defend himself, "I'm not good with emotional stuff!" He claimed haughtily, though his glare had little heat and he was trying to stop himself from smiling.

Kaito smiled, "no, I think that I needed to hear all that." He looked thoughtful, "maybe I do just need a fresh start." Conan yawned. Kaito grinned, "hmm… getting late for little children, yes?" Conan rolled his eyes, "yeah, yeah", he jumped off the couch and headed toward his own bed. "Thanks, tantei-kun." Kaito murmured, laying down on the couch to get some sleep himself.

The next day Kaito's expression was still thoughtful as he sat at his desk at school. "What's got you making that face?!" Aoko exclaimed, "you haven't played a prank all day! Aoko's getting worried! Don't tell me you're mourning your stupid idol!"

Kaito ignored the sting left by that comment. "Aoko…" he said slowly, "the end of the semester is in three days…." Aoko frowned, "so?" Kaito exhaled, "I'm not coming back, at the semester end I'll be transferring to Teitan High School in Beika."

Aoko's expression went from annoyed to hurt to enraged in a matter of seconds, "WHAT!" Kaito calmly answered as though everyone wasn't staring at him, "I'm transferring to-", "I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME, BAKAITO!" Aoko shouted, then her face fell, "why?" Kaito smiled, "I was given some advice and I'm following it." He said and he refused to say any more.

A week later at Teitan High School…

"We have a new student joining us today", the teacher announced, waving Kaito in. He grinned, "I am Kuroba Kaito, an aspiring magician!" He introduced himself, "I am here for a fresh start." The other students clapped politely before he was ushered to an empty seat by Mouri Ran. He knew from her expression that she recognized him as the one she had rescued from the rain.

Kaito smiled and sat down. A dark pink rose bloomed in his hand. Ran looked at it in pleased surprise. "Thank you for giving me shelter, Ran-san." Kaito said, "you were right then, I was in no shape to be out alone. Conan-kun also really helped. Please give him this." He handed another flower to her, a hydrangea. Ran nodded and they turned back to their lesson.

(Hmm… I keep on being so depressing. Maybe writing sad fanfiction is how I deal with stress… damn schoolwork! Unfortunately, I fear this makes my actors more OOC than I usually and initially picture them. I just suddenly got really annoyed with Aoko always bashing KID. Oh! Ah… in the language of flowers, a dark pink rose is a sign of thankfulness. Why it didn't just say gratitude is beyond me. Hydrangeas are 'thank you for understanding'; at least in this case. I honestly don't know anything about it; I looked it up online- but seriously? Why do they sometimes have multiple and contradictory meanings?)